When Hudson posted the unusual shot of Unger lovingly cradling his sleeping dog on her Stonehouse Photography page on Facebook, it went viral.

First, Hudson’s friends “liked” the image and shared it with others; then their friends shared it; then the local media shared it; then “Good Morning America” and “Inside Edition” and “CNN” and even Oprah’s vet shared it; and on and on it spread … across the country, on to Romania and China and … it is still being shared.

“I think it’s in India now, because I’m getting comments from people in India right now on my Facebook page,” Unger said.

Hudson’s business is still being affected by “the photo” — she recently hired her first employee, plus an intern.

“Business is booming — I would say a 30 percent increase in shoots — and then other writing and teaching projects are on the horizon as well,” Hudson says. “Who knew a favor to a friend would turn into this? It’s completely surreal.”

Unger and Hudson are in awe that this photo has affected so many, so deeply. Fans have tried to explain why:

“Probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on the Internet.”

“This would melt anyone’s heart, anyone that has one that is …”

“I wish the world was like you.”

A heap of healing

When Hudson posted the photo on Facebook, Schoep was aching with arthritis, barely eating or sleeping, fading fast.

“I probably would have put him down a week or two after that photo was taken,” Unger said.

But when people learned the story behind the photo — that Unger didn’t know how he’d pay for the dog’s pain medication, the vet bills or the alternative laser treatments for arthritis — they reached out to help.

“I started to get phone calls,” says Erik Haukaas, Schoep’s vet at the Bay Area Animal Hospital in Ashland, Wis. “People wanted to put money toward Schoep’s account. I was told that I should really open up a PayPal account. I didn’t know anything about PayPal — my kids did, but I didn’t — but I do now.”

For Schoep, the money — which has now reached about $25,000 — literally saved his life.

“When we started him on pain medicine and glucosamine and laser therapy, we were hoping to make an improvement,” Haukaas said. “It doesn’t always. It is just one more thing we try instead of putting a dog to sleep. In this case, it all worked out tremendously.

“In July, euthanization was an option we talked about,” Haukaas said. “It’s no longer an option we talk about.”

No wonder: Now that Schoep’s arthritis pain is being managed, his appetite has returned and he’s sleeping through the night again — on a Tempur-Pedic dog bed that a fan donated. He’s also going on walks again.

“I was walking with him two nights ago and realized that his back legs are not dragging at all,” Unger said. “They were dragging for over a year, close to two years, because he couldn’t lift them up. That’s not happening anymore. It’s absolutely astonishing that this therapy — laser treatments and glucosamine and the pain pills — is doing this.”

Adopted by many

At JohnAndSchoep.com , fans can buy the photo in the form of prints ($19.99-$49.99), coffee mugs ($15), bandanas ($15) and more.

A portion of the proceeds continues to help Unger and Schoep.

“The most important thing is that Schoep is taken care of for the rest of his life, both for food and medical,” Unger says. “For me, it’s simple things: I can now pay for gas to get Schoep to the vet for his weekly treatments — the vet is a 40- to 45-minute ride on the highway. Or, I can buy a bag of chips now at the grocery store and not have to find $4 to cut out somewhere else.”

Proceeds from some of the products will also benefit the dog’s new foundation.

Yes, the dog has a foundation.

Schoep’s Legacy Foundation — which will be a nonprofit — is an attempt to harness what has been called “an international love fest.”

“Schoep’s fan base is still growing — people still want to donate, to help,” says Julie McGarvie Unger, the dog’s aunt and a local public relations professional. “We wanted to do something that celebrates all this goodness and kindness, this bond with dogs, the human phenomenon that started with this photo.”

The mission of Schoep’s foundation is to improve animal and human welfare. Details are still being worked out, but possibilities include funding for a local, low-cost pet spay/neuter program; support of rescue organizations; support of organizations that work with aging dog; and helping dogs and veterans.

“These people have been so generous to Schoep and me,” Unger says. “Now it’s our turn to give back.”

How to donate

To make a donation to the dog’s foundation by check, make it payable to Schoep’s Legacy Foundation and send it to: Schoep’s Legacy Foundation, Inc.; P.O. Box 906; Ashland, WI 54806. Note: Schoep’s Legacy Foundation is applying for 501 (c) (3) charity status.